Arch-controlling device



Oct. '23 1928. 1,688,642

N. D. MATTISON ARCH CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Feb.- 20, 1925 INVENTOR NOR/119N0- fmrr/so/v BY M M J ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 23, 1928.

PATENT, OFFICE NORMAN D. MATTISON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ARCH-COIFTROLLING' DEVICE.

Application filed February 20, 1925. Serial No. 10,448.

The present invention relates to arch cor-, recting devices and a method for establishing correct foot posture and usage. More particularly my invention relates to foot posture controlling or correcting means and to a novel method of correcting fallen arches and of establishing or maintaining proper anatomical foot posture and usage.

The means heretofore employed .for correcting fallen arches and for the relief of weak feet comprise arch supporters which, while acting to support the arches or weak portions of the foot, cause ultimately, an in creased weakness through obviating the necessity for natural control, or natural support at the weakened portion or portions the foot, thereby causing an increase in the anatomical defect rather than overcoming the cause of the defeat.

The fact that general health is dependent,

. to a large degree, on proper foot posture and usage, is well established. The loss to civilization in out-put of work and general discomfort through fallen arches and foot defects is obviously very great, more than 90% of civilized peoples having pronate feet or other serious foot defects which interfere with general comfort or health. Means to overcome various defects havebeen studied and various means have been devised which relieve the pain incident to fallen arches by acting as an artificial support, but which do not overcome the defect.

The present invention aims to avoidsup porting the arch in an elevated position an seeks to restore proper foot posture and action through the application 'of stimuli to the foot which will induce curative muscular act-ion. In other words, the invention proposes to produce in the foot the action necessary to induce it to take the proper position, to strengthen the muscles of the foot, and to create those muscular habits in the foot which finally will result in restormg. the foot to normal strength andposture and re-establishingnatural muscular action.

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises the various features hereinafter more fully described and defined inthe claims. v The various features of the invention are illustrated in the [accompanying drawings, in which: I Figure 1 is a plan view of an insole to d tion, and the consequent greatl which my invention is applied, showing the bone structure of the foot in relation thereto; i Figure 2 is a view substantially in elevation of an insole to which my invention is applied, and a foot thereon, the bone structure of the foot being shown in relation to the insole and the invention applied thereto;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken onthe line 33 ofFigure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the pad or member comprising my invention; and

Figure 5 is a part sectional view in perspective of an insole showing the inserted toe ortion positioned in the insole forward f of t e anterior arch to attain prehensile or propulsion of the body depends very largely on the prevention of pronation, i. e. mwar inclination (rolling) of the foot. I have discovered that the prevention of such pronation, by the means hereinafter described, will serve to maintain the foot in its proper posture and to correct anatomical d defects, such as fallen arches.

As explained above, the means heretofore employed for correcting fallen arches have resulted in increasing the weakness of the foot, even thou h a greater or less amount of relief from tl ie strains, set up in the foot and through the body because ofthe defect, has beenaccomplished.

The use of the diminished use of the muscles of the oot, lead v to general physical weakness. The means which-I'have discovered, when properly and scientifically applied serves not only to overcome the resultant weakness due to the defect,- but serves to overcome the defect itself, and to strengthen the muscles of the foot whereby any further tendency to incorrect foot usage or the development of defects, such as fallen arches, is entirely overcome. In order that my invention may be completely understood, the underlying principles upon which it is based will be briefly explained. f

During the act'of walking the weight of the body is first applied .at and carried by foot in an incorrect posi-- concentrated .at the back and outer aspect of the heel. As the sole of the foot comes into contact withthe ground, the weight of.

the body is transmitted forward on the foot, the weight being carried principally along the outer margin of the sole, or, in other words, along the outer longitudinal arch of the foot, and from thence the weightis transferred to the ball of the foot, being accompanied by a slight rolling action of the foot, in which the arches of the foot coordinate with the foot muscles and the ankle bone to resiliently support the weight of the body. Toward the end of the step, the weight of the body is carried principally on the ball ofthe foot and propulsion is attained through the prehensile action or flexor action ofthe toes, thegreater part of the force of propulsion being due to the action of the great toe. Whether in the act of walking or in repose, the weight of the body is carried on what may be called the weightbearing triangle, which comprises substantially the area formed by joining the follow ing three points: the weight center of the astragalus bone projected to the heel bone, the head or distal end of the 5th metatarsal bone (or the outer ball of the foot), and the head of the first metatarsal bone (the inner ball of the foot) or slightly forward of this point of the foot, when used to best advantage. I

The main arches of the foot comprise what are known as the inner longitudinal arch, which extends under the inner side of the foot; the outer longitudinal arch, which extends along the outer margin of the foot; the anterior transverse arch, which extends transversely across the ball of the foot at substantially the distal or head ends of the metatarsal bones; and the posterior transverse arch, which extends under the cuneiform bones andthe cuboid bone.

In cases where the inner longitudinal arch has become weakened due to incorrect foot usage, or to inherent .weakness of the foot, the latter becomes inc-lined inwardly (i. e. pronated) whereby, the perpendicular v weight-bearing line, falls inside of the central portion of'the weight-bearing triangle of the foot, and is sometimes, in fact, thrown entirely inside of-the, weight-bearing triangle, thus setting up strains in. the muscles and ligaments discomfort. A

I have discovered that by. positioning a pad or a suitable resilient member of dimensions suited to the size and condition of the foot in connection with which it is to be ,used, the tendency of pronation may be entirely overcome,,whereby correct foot posof the foot, and causing great ture and usage may be established. By the means which will be hereinafter more fully described, I am enabled to raise fallen arches into normal position and to strengthen the muscles of the foot, whereby inducing proper 1 weight distribution on the foot, whereby the development of defects in the foot will be avoided.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a pad or cushion which may be made from any suitable material, sponge rubber, for example, being satisfactory. I preferably emplo a resilient material for this purpose which, while serving to produce pressure on the sole of the foot along the outer longitudinal arch in the position which will be hereinafter fully described, does not positively raise the foot but merely serves to provide a local sensation of support, particularly at times when the weight is not on the foot, and through the sensation or feeling of support under the outer longitudinal arch, the foot tends to feel for this pad, and thereby automatically roll itself outward into correct position. I -This lifts the inner arch, tends to bring the toes into their proper supporting relation and induces the gripping or prehensile action of the forefoot. It is to be emphasized that the pad or cushion does not actually support the portion of the foot under the outer longitudinal arch in an abnormally elevated position and therefore does not induce pronation, such as is produced by supporting members or pads heretofore employed along the outer margin of the foot to prevent excessive wear along the outer margin of the shoe but in fact, produces the opposite effect of shifting the weight toward the outer margin of the foot in walking, thereby attaining proper weight distribution on the weight-bearing triangle thereof.

The pad or cushion above referred to may be placed or fastened in anysuitable manner in the shoe or on the insole or may-be made integral therewith if desired. I do not wish certain definite 'limiting positions as will now be described.

In igure 1 the numerals 1,9, 4

indicate the.'*first,"second,- third, .fourth and if fifth metatarselbones. Substantially at the distal or front ends of the metatarsel bones.

-nufnera1 7 the middlecuneiform bone and 8 the internal cuneiform bone, a These bones are positioned at the section of the foot which is generally referred to as the posterior transverse arch. The numeral 11 indicates the heel bone or the 0s calcis,

The outer'longitudinal arch extends substantially under the fourth and fifth metatarsal bones from the front or distal ends thereof, under'the cuboid bone to the anterior end of the 0s calcis 11. It is imperative that the pad or cushion does not extend substantially beyond the limits of the outer longitudinal arch in order that pronation or inward turning of the foot will not occur through the supporting action of the pad or member 10. Preferably it is'located under the cuboid bone. 1 The position of the pad is clearly indicated by reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, Figure 1 indicating a plan view, Figure 2 a view in elevation and Figure 3, a transverse section showing the position of the member with respect to the foot. Figure 3 indicates clearly the position of the pad 10 at the section of the cuneiform bones and the cuboid bone, the inner layer or fatty tissues 13 of the skin being clearly indicated and the plantar fascia or the connective tissue which forms a sheath for the muscles of the foot being indicated along the line 14 in this view. The member 10 is preferably attached to an insole 15 in order to conveniently hold the pad or cushion,

in place with respect to the foot. The height or configuration of the member 10 must be such as to form a contacting surface for the surface of the foot under the outer longitudinal arch but must not be of sulficient height so as to cause inclination or pronation of the foot but merely to produce a local feeling ofa supporting means along the outer longitudinal arch. This sensation or feeling of support under the outer-longitudinal arch produces a more or less unconscious tendency for the foot to roll outwardly sufiiciently to shift the weight toward said arch with the result that the inner arch is unconsciously lifted, which in turn causes a proper .weight distribution along the toes, the heel and the inner and outer ball of the foot. By thus limiting the size of the pad to the definite area of the foot, as above set forth, and also limiting the height of the pad, depending 'on the height of the outer longitudinal arch, an entirely new result 1s obtained in overcommg foot defects whether of the posterior transverse arch, the anterior transverse arch, flat footedness and other common defects. It is to be understood that the pad 10 may be made of any suitable material whether of felt, metal or s ring material, which will give the desire effect of inducing a sensat1on of support without actually supporting the foot in a position materially elevated when the weight is on the foot, or producin pronation or lifting of the outside of the oot. The insole 15 as shownis, aside from the pad 10, like the ordinary insole and is entirely suited for the support of a normal foot. It does not elevate the inner longitudinal arch or the transverse arches, but it leaves all the arches entirely free for normal action.

In order to increase or promote the prehensile action of the toes, a cushion 16 may be conveniently employed in the insole as indicated more particularly in Figures 1 and 5, the cushion being preferably of a soft material and depressed, or held, below the level of the upper surface of the insole, as shown in Figure 5, the edges of the insole along the outer portion of the member 16 being skived so as not to produce discomfort tothe foot. The cushion 16 should be so placed on the insole that the parts or inferior surfaces of the toes rest or come in contact continuously with the cushion, whereby prehensile or gripping sions may then be positioned in the shoe sov as to come within the limits as above set forth. The position of the bones' may be accurately determined by a specialist without the use of an X ray machine, and the proper size and dimensions of the pad or member may be determined in any suitable way. The pad or member 10 might be secured to the'sole under the insole, or might be secured to the lower surface of the insole, so as to be between the sole and insole, or might, if desired, be incorporated into the inner portion of the insole. 'I- do not desire therefore, to be limited as to the manner of attaching or positioning the pad or member 10 except as set forth in the claims. 'It is to beunderstood alsothat mrious changes or modifications may be made in the device as described without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the claims. 1

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: I e

1. A device of the character described comprising an insole member, and a resilient pad carried by saidmember for location under the outer longitudinal-arch of the foot,

said pad being constructed and arranged to produce a local sensation of support lunder said arch but being of insufficient height to cause the foot to roll inwardly. i 2. A device of the character described comprising an'insole member including a portion of said member and positioned for 5 engagement with the portion of the toot im- Inediately under the cuboid bone, said pad being constructed and arranged to create a local sensation of support in the region of the cuboid bone but being of insufficient 10 height to cause the foot to roll inwardly.

3. A device of the character described comprising an insole member, aresillent pad,

carried by said member for location under the outer longitudinal arch of the foot, said pad being adapted to produce a local sensation of support under the arch, but'of insuflicient height to cause the foot to roll inwardly, and a second resilient pad'located at the forward end of said member and adapted to receive the toes of the foot thereon.

Signed at New York city, N. Y. this 18th day of February 1925.

NORMAN n. MATTISON. 

